Another Chance Read Free Page A

theatre.  She'd seen him dressed in his best suit and dirty in his working clothes.  They'd kissed, held each other close.  Yet none of those events had been as intimate as standing there, where the scent of leather, hay and man clung to the log walls.  Where his presence breathed in the room.
    Realizing she was standing there like a ninny thinking of how Wade's room smelled rather than getting her wet, clinging clothes off, Jillian gathered what she needed from her saddlebags.
    She was here for one thing and one thing only, she reminded herself.  There was no room in her life for men, especially selfish, short-sighted ones who couldn't accept that a woman was capable of more than cooking and raising babies.  Not that Jillian had a problem with that; she enjoyed cooking and though she hadn't spent much time around children, had always hoped to have some one day.  But that didn't mean she couldn't do more.  Didn't need to do more.
    She was amply qualified to be this town's vet and she aimed to ensure that, before this night was over, Mr. Parker understood that he had hired the best doctor for the job.
    ***
    The murmur of voices grew louder as Jillian--dressed in dry skirt, blouse, and stockings--descended the stairs.  Light from the kitchen spilled onto the entryway floor, creating a pale glow on the worn wooden surface.
    "We were just talking about you," Mrs. Parker said when Jillian stepped into the kitchen.
    Jillian's gaze flew to the table where Wade and James sat.  She acknowledged James with a smile, but it was Wade who commanded her attention.  He'd taken off his hat, but hadn't combed his hair.  Damp, sandy brown waves fell onto his forehead.  His jaw was dark with stubble.  His accusatory gaze followed her to the table.  Oh, she had little doubt they'd been talking about her.  And even less doubt that Wade had had anything positive to say.
    Mrs. Parker pulled out one of the chairs that rimmed the table.  "Sit.  I'll get you some coffee."
    Jillian had barely taken her seat before Wade leaned forward, arms braced on the table.
    "I assume you have an explanation for misleading us about who you were?"
    Mrs. Parker's simple calico skirt swooshed as she spun round.  Her honey-colored eyes flashed.
    "You're interrogation can wait until the poor woman's had a chance to get some coffee."  She held her ground, finger still pointed until Wade slumped back in his chair.  Only then did she turn back to the stove.
    James, with a twinkle in his eye, gave Jillian a wink.  Before long Wade's mother had placed a steaming cup before Jillian.  Ignoring a scowling Wade, Jillian wrapped her cold hands around the mug.  Heat seeped into her chilled palms.  Not caring that she'd likely burn her tongue, Jillian took a sip of the bold brew and sighed as it warmed her throat and belly.
    Her moment of peace was shattered all too soon.
    "I'm still waiting."
    "Wade!"
    "It's all right, Mrs. Parker."
    "It's Eileen.  We don't stand much on formality around here."  She shot Wade another glare.  "As you can obviously see."
    Wade once again rested his forearms on the table, intertwined his long fingers.  The hard lines of his jaw said the little patience he'd been hanging onto was gone.  "She lied to us and I want to know why."
    Jillian set her cup down.  Hard.  Wade wasn't the only one losing patience.  "I never lied to you or anybody else."
    "Is that what you call never once saying you were a woman?  You signed all your correspondence with the letter J.  If you weren't lying, why didn't you use your full name?"
    "Wade, it's late.  I think this can all wait until morning."
    "It's all right Eileen, I can answer this."  Jillian shifted forward in her chair.  "I didn't sign my full name because you advertised for a trained veterinarian and that is exactly what I am.  I suspected, rightly so as it turns out, that if I signed Jillian you wouldn't hire me.  As to my father, I have no idea how you even came to know of